This is a very interesting CD that fuses together straight-ahead jazz with East European folk music, melodies taken from Hungary and Romania. Mihály Dresch, who is heard on tenor, soprano, and recorder, stretches the forms without discarding the themes or the rhythms. Although
the Dresch Quartet has worked with such top members of the avant-garde as
Dewey Redman,
David Murray,
Roscoe Mitchell, and
John Tchicai, the music on
Straight Music is more melodic and accessible. A major asset to the group is violinist
Ferenc Kovács, who adds a great deal to some of the gypsy music while having a jazz sensibility, too. Mihály Dresch's daughter Anna has a brief vocal on "Csipkefa Bimbója" and there are guests on cimbalom and kotoz (a Hungarian lute). This set is quite intriguing and well worth several listens. ~ Scott Yanow